definitely in order. Algae wafers and flakes may be supplemented with zucchini. Prepare zucchini by cutting it into slices, then either freezing it for 24 hours and thawing it, or microwaving it until tender. Both freezing and microwaving the zucchini will cause the thick cell walls to explode (thereby making the plant feel mushy to the touch) and render it digestible by the sharks. Anchor the zucchini by rubber-banding it o a large stone or some other firmly seated underwater decoration. Bear in mind that uneaten zucchini will add a considerable amount of plant detritus to the tank, so superior filtration is paramount.
Mark Smith
Juvenile bala shark Balantiocheilos melanopterus.
MP. & C. Piednoir
Adult B. melanopterus; bala sharks can be nervous in an aquarium and require large tanks
to feel comfortable.
Appropriate water conditions for
the rainbow shark consist of moderate
temperatures from 73° to 80°F and a stable
pH ranging from 6. 6 to 7. 4. This fish is
particularly sensitive to radical swings in pH,
so regular water changes to keep the water
parameters stable are definitely in order.
Maxing out at just over 6 inches long as an
adult (though remaining much more slender
than an adult red-tail shark), a rainbow shark
needs appropriately sized quarters with a
photoperiod consisting of equal periods of light
and dark. As is true with the red-tail shark, this
species’ coloration may vary depending on the
amount of lighting it receives: Conditions that are
perpetually too dark will result in the shark taking
on a bleached or washed-out appearance, while
superior lighting conditions will bring out rich
red and deep black in the shark’s skin and scales.
If given ample hiding places and kept with
calm, docile tankmates, the rainbow shark
can make an excellent and long-lived addition
to the community tank. Despite its docile
nature toward other fishes, however, this
shark is best kept one per tank.
Bala Shark
The most popular of all the freshwater sharks
is the unmistakable bala shark Balantiocheilos
melanopterus. Initially described by Bleeker in
1851, the bala shark is native to the lakes and
clear streams of Malaysia and the Philippines,
where it may live for several years and grow
to an impressive 14 inches long. As is true
of the red-tail shark, the bala shark is rapidly
becoming extinct throughout many of the
waterways in which it originally thrived.
Wearing a silvery coat of metallic-sheen
scales and tall black-edged fins, the bala shark
has enlarged eyes and reduced barbels (which
are pronounced in the red-tail, rainbow, and
black sharks), which are tell-tale signs that
this animal is a visual, midlevel hunter that
preys upon fish fry, swimming invertebrates,
and small amphibians. These fish seldom take
vegetative matter.
Tropical Fish Hobbyist www.tfhmagazine.com
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